Self-lighting cigarette and ignition element therefor



July 26, 1966 F. DE CAPITANI SELF-LIGHTING CIGARETTE AND IGNITIONELEMENT THEREFOR Filed Jan. 14, 1963 INVENTQR.

I 3,262,456 SELF-LlGHTIN G CEGARETTE AND IGNITION ELEMENT THEREFORFrancesco De Capitani, Corso Magenta 83, Milan, Italy Filed Jan. 14,1963, Ser. No. 251,186 Claims priority, application Italy, Oct. 18,1954, 13,702/54; Jan. 19, 1962, 1,197/62 8 Claims. (Cl. 1317) Theinvention pertains to an improved lighting member or element forself-lighting cigarettes of the general type disclosed in my copendingapplication Serial No. 508,621, filed May 16, 1955, now abandoned, thepresent application being a continuation-in-part of said priorapplication.

My invention relates generally to self-lighting cigarettes and isconcerned "more particularly with cigarettes and the like having anignition element mounted on and associated with one end portion thereof,so that the cigarette may be lighted by striking and igniting suchelement on a matching striking surface.

The principal use for the lighting element of the invention is shown inUS. Patent No. 2,844,152. An igniting element is provided for insertioninto cigarettes and the like, and comprises a substantially cylindricalpaper support, the paper of which has been impregnated with anoxygenating compound to ensure the prompt and complete burning thereof.An igniting rib is placed on one .face of said paper support end extendslongitudinally thereof. When said paper support has a cylindrical .form,the igniting rib is on the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder.

The igniting element is positioned in one end of the cigarette aroundthe roll of tobacco and inside the cigarette paper which isconventionally wrapped around the roll of tobacco. The igniter rib isexposed through a slot or holein the cigarette paper so that it can beignited by rubbing it on a matching striking surface, thus igniting therib and causing the ignition element to burn and ignite the tobacco atthe cigarette end portion.

The manufacture of said self-igniting cigarettes ineludes the steps ofproviding an ignition element-forming strip comprising a strip of paperwhich is impregnated with the oxygenating compound, the width ofthe'strip being nearly equal to the circumference of the cylindricalignition element to be formed therefrom, placing an uninterrupted filletof igniting rib compound on one face of the strip longitudinallythereof, positioning a roll of the said ignition element forming stripso that it can be fed onto a strip of cigarette paper Whichhas beenpreviously provided with longitudinally aligned and evenly spaced slots,cutting sections .from the said strip, positioning said sections atspaced intervals on the surface of the cigarette paper which is to lieagainst the roll of tobacco, the igniter fillet portions on each sectionbeing aligned with a slot in said cigarette paper, laying a roll oftobacco over and longitudinally of said cigarette paper and spacedignition element forming sections, wrapping said cigarette paper andsections around said tobacco roll to form a continuous tube of tobaccowrapped with cigarette paper and having lighting elements at intervalsalong the length thereof, and cutting said continuous tube transverselyof its length at regular intervals to form individual cigarettes with alighting element at one end thereof.

In the actual use of self-lighting cigarettes produced according to myprior invention, and also in the use of self-lighting cigarettes and thelike produced by applying prior knowledge of the art to which thisinvention appertains, such an arrangement has been unsatisfactorybecause of the fact that the flame provided by the burning ignitionelement sometimes is not suflicient to properly light the cigarette.

More particularly, it has been found that such a ciga- United StatesPatent Patented July 26, 1966 rett'e ignition element, which forms, whenproperly and completely ignited, a burning ring or annulus around theend portion of the tobacco roll enclosed within said element, has ingeneral too short a burning life or duration for properly and safelyigniting the tobacco roll end portion.

From another standpoint, it has been found that for proper ignition ofthe cigarette, the cylindrical ignition element must be compounded sothat, when it is ignited upon ignition of the igniting rib thereon atone point on its periphery, the flame must progress as :fast as possiblethroughout said periphery for promptly forming a nearly complete burningannulus, which has been proved to be essential and critical for properlighting of the tobacco.

Having the above and other considerations in mind, it will be apparentto those skilled in the art that the problem is to provide an ignitionelement of the type referred to above, which is capable of thoroughlyand quickly burning so that a very complete burning annulus will beprovided around the tobacco within a time as short as possible, andwhich is capable of continuing its burning for a relatively long time,as required for proper lighting of the tobacco encircled thereby.

It is therefore an important further object of this invention to providea new and improved ignition element consisting of a section of a stripof impregnated paper wound around one end portion of the tobacco of thecigarette roll, within the cigarette paper wrapped around said roll, andhaving an ignition promoting component in the form of an igniting rib,the said impregnated paper including at least an oxygen producingcomponent adapted to cause the flame, starting at the location whereinsaid ignition promoting component has ignited said paper, to progressquickly throughout the entire surface of said strip section, and aburning control component adapted to control the combustion of saidimpregnated paper for extending the duration of burning.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent as the following description proceeds, and the novel featuresthereof are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself,however, and the mode of carrying out the same will be best understoodfrom the following detailed description thereof, when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, forming an essentialcomponent of this disclosure, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective fragmentary view, on an enlarged scale, of aself-lighting cigarette produced according to this invention.

FIG. 2. is a perspective view, on a greatly enlarged scale, of thelightingelementassociated with the cigarette.

FIGS. 3 to 6 inclusive are perspective views diagrammatically showingthe essential steps of manufacturing self-lighting cigarettes accordingto the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer tolike parts, elements and components throughout the several figures, inFIG. 1, numeral 10 generally indicates a self-lighting cigaretteproduced according to the invention and having a fore end portion at 10.4

The portion 10 is associated with a lighting element 11 having anignition promoting rib at 12 and forming a substantially cylindricalannulus around the tobacco at the front end portion 13 of the cigarette.

The said element 11 consists of a small portion of a strip ofimpregnated paper wound in a cylindrical shape and so dimensioned thatit is in an are extending around slightly less than the circumference ofthe cylinder, so that the opposite end portions of such element areslightly spaced, preferably, as shown in FIG. 2. The said ignitionpromoting rib 12 is located midway between said end portions.

The operation of the ignition element of the invention for correct andcomplete lighting of the cigarette associated therewith will be readilyapparent upon a consideration of FIG. 2. Supposing that the ignitionpromoting component in the form of rib 12 has been ignited by frictionalengagement thereof with a suitable striking surface, in the same mannerthat a conventional match or a safety match is ignited, the centreportion 11 of the paper element 11 will be ignited, starting thecombustion process of such element. Then said combustion process willprogress quickly in direction A at both sides of said centre portion 11'to the whole area of said element 11 until a burning annulus is formedaround the tobacco 13 (FIG. 1) of the cigarette which latter is locatedwithin the burning element. The ignition of said tobacco is caused byinward radial progress (as diagrammatically indicated by arrows B inFIG. 2) of the combustion.

Two features are material and critical for proper ignition of theself-igniting cigarette:

The paper of said ignition element 11 must be compounded so as toinclude oxidizing agents and readily ignitable matter, so that thecombustion process will take place promptly and spread over the wholearea of the element to provide the said burning annulus around thetobacco. The time required for spreading the combustion around the wholecircumference of the fore portion 10 of the cigarette (FIG. 1) must bequite short, less than two seconds, for example. It has been found thatif the spreading of the combustion takes a longer time, the tobacco willbe improperly ignited, and in particular the ignition thereof will notbe evenly promoted around the whole fore end of the cigarette;

In addition, the said element 11 must burn reliably so that combustionwill take place even in unfavorable weather or ambient conditions, suchas on windy days, where the cigarette tip is not completely protectedfrom rain, and so on;

Since the incandescent annulus is formed around the cigarette tip orfore portion, it must remain incandescent for a relatively long time,such as four or five seconds, for example, to ensure the proper andcomplete ignition of the circumscribed tobacco.

As diagrammatically shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 inclusive, for providingcigarettes having a given length L with a lighting or ignition elementproduced and applied according to the invention, a continuous strip ofignition element forming material is provided, said material consistingof a strip 20 of impregnated paper and of a continuous fillet 21 of aknown composition adapted to promote ignition when ignited uponfrictional engagement thereof with a suitable matching striking surface,said fillet being placed longitudinally of said strip on the axis ofsymmetry thereof and on one face thereof.

Strip sections 22 are cut from said strip material, each section beingsufficiently large to form two individual ignition elements. Saidsections 22 are laid at spaced intervals on the surface of a strip ofcigarette wrapping paper 23, which has correspondingly spaced slots 24therein, and which is to lie against the roll of tobacco 25. The saidsections 22 are placed on said paper 23 so that each correspondingsection of fillet 21, associated with the individual sections 22, willbe aligned with and protrude outwardly through one of said slots 24. Thespacing of said slots and of the locations at which said sections 22 areplaced on the cigarette paper 23 is twice the desired length L of thecigarettes to be manufactured.

According to present practice in the art, a roll of tobacco 23 islongitudinally fed onto and laid over the cigarette paper strip 23 withthe spaced sections 22 juxtaposed thereon, and then the said strip 23 iswrapped about said roll to form a continuous tube 26 (FIG. 4) of tobaccowrapped with cigarette paper and having sections 22 at intervals equalto twice L located inside said paper along the length thereof (FIG. Anyindividual section 22 inside said tube 26 has a portion of ignitionpromoting material exposed through and protruding from each slot 24.

This continuous tube 26 is subsequently cut transverse- 'ly of itslength at locations so as to transversely out said sections 22, wherebyindividual cigarettes 10, each having a lighting or ignition element atone end thereof are formed. Such individual cigarettes can be providedwith filter means associated at their other end portion, if desired, bymethods currently used in cigarette manufacturing.

The composition of batch 40 designed to form the compound of theignition promoting rib 12 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 6) is not described in detail,as such composition is well known to those skilled in the art to whichthis invention appertains, in particular the art of manufacturingmatches and safety matches manufacturing. Such rib 12, as a matter offact, is identical in its composition and in its mode of ignition andoperation to the igniting head of conventionally produced matches.

The new and surprising property of the igniting element paper member 11,produced according to the invention, is attained by combining, in suchmember 11, an impregnated paper support including readily ignitable andcombustible components, adapted to form a relatively high temperatureincandescent annulus when wholly ignited, oxygenating components adaptedto producing oxygen for causing the combustion process of saidcombustible components to progress readily, and combustion controllingcomponents adapted to prolong the duration of incandescence of saidelement.

It has been surprisingly found that such combustion control can beobtained by dispersing throughout the paper structure finely dividedcombustion moderator or inhibitor material, such as light magnesiumcarbonate, and/ or diatomite, and/ or similar matter, so that the rapidprogress of the combustion through the whole area of element 11 willinvolve the burning of only a part of its components, while theremaining part of such components will complete the combustion processmore slowly.

'This property of igniting element 111 can be further improved by addingthe said oxygenating components in an amount less than required forcomplete oxygenation of the associated combustible components, whereby,upon ignition of the element, the flame will promptly spread over thewhole of said element, upon the prompt but partial oxygenation of thecombustible components, while the excess of said latter components willburn more slowly by taking oxygen from the atmosphere.

According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the papermaterial 20 has the following composition, by weight:

Example 1 Percent Cellulose From to r Nitrocellulose Q From 25 to 35 ILight magnesium carbonate From 5 to 10 The magnesium carbonate can bepartially or wholly replaced by diatomite. It will be observed that theamount of nitrocellulose in the paper composition is relatively low, andtherefore such paper can be safely handled, transported and stored. Inaddition, such paper can be economically and safely produced by usingcurrent procedures and conventional plants for paper manufacture. Theproduction of paper will not therefore be described in detail.

The addition of oxidizing agents can be carried out by immersion of thepaper of Example 1 or equivalent in a batch, consisting of an aqueoussolution of the following composition, the parts being by weight:

Example 2 Percent Potassium chlorate From 8 to 15 Potassium nitrate From10 to 15 Ammonium nitrate About 3 When a batch including major amountsof potassium chlorate, such as over to 12%, is used, such batch will bemade by dissolving the chlorate at 80 C., while for minor amounts thechlorate can be dissolved at about 60 C.

Greater amounts of dissolved oxidizing agents can be used whenimpregnating relatively stiff paper, because such paper will absorb thesolution in an amount not exceeding 50% of the weight of paper, so that,upon drying of the impregnated paper, the composition thereof willinclude at least 12% of said agents.

Preferably, lighter and more porous paper is used so as to absorbsolution in an amount up to 100 to 150% of its weight. Upon drying andeven calendering of such impregnated paper, oxidizing agents in amountsup to to can be found in the composition thereof. In such case, theminor percentages indicated in Example 2 can be used advantageously.

The relatively small amount of ammonium nitrate, included in Example 2might be considered as an additive only. Such addition has howeversurprisingly been shown to eliminate the typical and disagreeable tasteand smell of combustion.

Although the present invention has been described with respect tospecific details of certain embodiments thereof, it is not intended thatsuch details be limitations upon the scope of the invention exceptinsofar as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a self-lighting cigarette having a wrapped tobacco roll includinga fore portion, igniter means comprising:

an ignition element consisting of a strip of impregnated papercircumferentially positioned about said fore portion and having an outersurface and an inner surface contacting the tobaccoin said fore portionwith the end face of the tobacco roll exposed to the air;

an ignition promoting rib of a composition adapted to ignite andpromptly burn upon frictional engagement with a matching strikingsurface, said rib being secured against a limited area of said outersurface,

the said impregnated paper ignition element consists of paper materialincluding, in its weight, 60 to 65% cellulose; 25 to nitrocellulose; and5 to 10% essentially incombustible matter taken from the groupconsisting of light magnesium carbonate and diatomite, and impregnatedwith a mixture of oxygen producing compounds taken from the groupconsisting of potassium chlorate and potassium nitrate.

2. The ignition element defined in claim 1, wherein the impregnatingmixture further includes ammonium nitrate.

3. The ignition element defined in claim 1, wherein the said impregnatedpaper material includes, in weight, from 8 to 15% potassium chlorate andfrom 10 to 15 potassium nitrate.

4. The ignition element defined in claim 1, wherein the said impregnatedpaper material includes, in weight, from 8 to 15 potassium chlorate,from 10 to 1 5% potassium nitrate, and 3% of ammonium nitrate.

5. In a self-lighting cigarette having a wrapped tobacco roll includinga fore portion, igniter means comprising:

an ignition element consisting of a strip of impregnated papercircumferentially positioned about said fore portion and having an outersurface and an inner surface contacting the tobacco in said fore portionwith the end face of the tobacco roll exposed to the air; an ignitionpromoting rib of a composition adapted to ignite and promptly burn uponfrictional engagement with a matching striking surface, and said ribbeing secured against a limited area of said outer surface, said stripof paper being formed from a composition including about 8 partscellulose, about 4 parts nitrocellulose and about 1 part of anessentially incombustible matter taken from the group consisting oflight magnesium carbonate and diatomite, and impregnated with a mixtureof oxygen producing compounds taken from the group consisting ofpotassium chlorate, potassium nitrate and ammonium nitrate.

6. The ignition element of claim 5, wherein its nitrocellulose contentis not greater than 35% of the Weight of the paper composition.

7. The ignition element of claim 5, wherein the oxygen producingcompounds in the impregnated paper amount from 12 to 25% 0f the weightof said paper.

8. The ignition element of claim 5, wherein the paper compositionincludes from to cellulose, from 25 to 35% nitrocellulose, and from 5 to10% essentially incombustible combustion controlling matter, and it isimpregnated up to 25% of its weight with the mixture of oxygen producingcompounds.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,518,371 12/1924Traquair 117-69 1,719,794 7/1929 Anchondo l317 11,942,899 l/l934 Parsons1317 2,013,508 9/1935 Seaman 13l-l5 2,422,277 6/1947 Witt 13 172,644,461 7/1953 Witt 131- 7 2,949,382 8/ 1960 Dickelman et al 117693,046,995 7/ 1962 Christy l31;-7

FOREIGN PATENTS 646,020 11/1950 Great Britain.

417,326 1/1947 Italy.

442,848 12/1948 Italy.

SAMUEL KOREN, Primary Examiner.

MELVIN D. REIN, Examiner.

1. IN A SELF-LIGHTING CIGARETTE HAVING A WRAPPED TOBACCO ROLL INCLUDINGA FORE PORTION, IGNITER MEANS COMPRISING: AN IGNITION ELEMENT CONSISTINGOF A STRIP OF IMPREGNATED PAPER CIRCUMFERENTIALLY POSITIONED ABOUT SAIDFORE PORTION AND HAVING AN OUTER SUURFACE AND AN INNER SURFACECONTACTING THE TOBACCO IN SAID FORE PORTION WITH THE END FACE OF THETOBACCO ROLL EXPOSED TO THE AIR; AN IGNITION PROMOTING RIB OF ACOMPOSITION ADAPTED TO IGNITE AND PROMPTLY BURN UPON FRICTIONALENGAGEMENT WITH A MATCHING STRIKING SURFACE, SAID RIB BEING SECUREDAGAINST A LIMITED AREA OF SAID OUTER SURFACE, THE SAID IMPREGNATED PAPERIGNITION ELEMENT CONSISTS OF PAPER MATERIAL INCLUDING, IN ITS WEIGHT, 60TO 65% CELLUULOSE; 25 TO 35% NITROCELLULOSE; AND 5 TO 10% ESSENTIALLYINCOMBUSTIBLE MATTER TAKEN FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF LIGHT MAGNESIUMCARBONATE AND DIATOMITE, AND IMPREGNATED WITH A MIXTURE OF OXYGENPRODUCING COMPOUNDS TAKEN FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF POTASSIUMCHLORATE AND POTASSIUM NITRATE.